Horizons expansion + Dark World Online

[Arthur_Parker]

Linky 1

Horizons: Empire of Istaria Expansion Announced
Tulga Games developers of the award-winning Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), Horizons: Empire of Istaria, announced the development of a new Horizons expansion, tentatively titled Horizons: The Settlements. The new expansion will contain all of the content from the original game, as well as environmental, creature and gameplay updates.   

MESA, Arizona - May 8, 2006 - Tulga Games, LLC, developers of the award-winning Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), Horizons: Empire of Istaria, today announced the development of a new Horizons expansion, tentatively titled Horizons: The Settlements. The new expansion will contain all of the content from the original game, as well as environmental, creature and gameplay updates.

Horizons: The Settlements will feature both player-crafted and developer-designed content including new furniture, racially-themed structures, gardens, monsters, treasures and quests. Players will now have the option of building new racial structures, such as Dryad trees and Dwarven tunnels, making for a more customized player environment, while new companion animals can function as beasts-of-burden, familiars and guardians. Vicious new monsters, including Harpies, will now inhabit Istaria, providing new battle opportunities and new types of treasure to capture. Horizons: The Settlements will be free to current subscribers, while being priced at a suggested U.S. retail of $19.99 for new players (available in stores and via digital download).

Developed by Tulga Games, LLC, Horizons: Empire of Istaria allows players to create characters from any of 11 fantasy races including Dragons, Satyrs, Dryads, Humans and Elves while developing skills from 50 schools. Horizons' world is near-limitless in scope; as dragons soar above and below one another in the skies and players embark upon adventures spanning land, sea and air while working collectively to build a variety of surface and subterranean structures. The game's family-friendly nature allows for cooperative gameplay, and players with limited time can enjoy brief solo adventures without suffering any penalty. Featuring new quests designed by renowned fantasy writer Peter S. Beagle, the Horizons' universe continues to attract new fans looking for an outstanding MMORPG experience. More information about Horizons: Empire of Istaria is available at www.istaria.com.

Linky 2

Tulga Games Announces Modern Horror MMORPG - Dark World Online
Tulga Games announced the development of Dark World Online, a new modern-horror MMORPG. In Dark World Online, players choose between playing one of the three fantasy factions fighting for control in a modern-world setting.   

MESA, Arizona - May 8, 2006 - Tulga Games, LLC, developers of the award-winning Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), Horizons: Empire of Istaria, today announced the development of Dark World Online, a new modern-horror MMORPG. In Dark World Online, players choose between playing one of the three fantasy factions fighting for control in a modern-world setting.

In development by Tulga Games, LLC, Dark World Online is an MMORPG set in a stylized modern urban environment inhabited by three rival factions, all fighting for control of the world. In the game, players can take on the personas of Humans, Vampires or Werewolves, each replete with special skills and abilities, and biases towards the other factions. Each faction also features customized weaponry, appearances, tools and dwellings to immerse the player in the fantasy world. Featuring support for both Player-vs.-Player (PvP) and Player-vs.-Environment (PvE) gameplay, Dark World Online will offer an outstanding gameplay experience for all types of gamers. For more information regarding Dark World Online, please visit www.DarkWorldOnline.com.

I never tried Horizons so no snarky comments from me.

[Threash]

In the game, players can take on the personas of Vampires, Werewolves or Lunch

I think that would be more accurate.

[stray]

Dark World Online

If they were competent, I'd say it's a great idea.

Then again, maybe they've learned something (see Funcom).

[raydeen]

Wow. I thought Horizons plowed into the ground a year or two ago. Can't believe it's still around.

As to the second game, sounds good on paper, but I ain't holding much hope. Sounds like Dark Age of Underworld to me.

[Yegolev]

Sounds like Harpies are beetles with new models and beasts-of-burden are cargo disks with animated legs.  Both programmers must have been working overtime to get this out the door.  Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

[WayAbvPar]

Can I be a vampiric dragon??

[Yegolev]

Sure, Horizons is RP-friendly.

[Murgos]

Tulga Games

I keep reading that as "Tubgirl Games."

Unfortunately, I don't think I am that far off.

[schild]

You know what this means.

DAVID BOWMAN IS BACK AND THIS TIME HE'S OUT FOR BLOOD.

[Signe]

I wonder if he still has that restraining order on you?

[SpaceDrake]

In honesty, a "White Wolf"/"World of Darkness" MMO is something I know a fair number of people have been waiting for, and the concept certainly holds water a lot better than some other things I've seen thrown around as of late. Sure, it's another PvP MMO, but Werewolves vs. Vampires really is one of those things that you have to struggle to screw up.

[WayAbvPar]

In honesty, a "White Wolf"/"World of Darkness" MMO is something I know a fair number of people have been waiting for, and the concept certainly holds water a lot better than some other things I've seen thrown around as of late. Sure, it's another PvP MMO, but Werewolves vs. Vampires really is one of those things that you have to struggle to screw up.

I think they can do it breezily. The struggle will be keeping subscribers around after the first month.

[kaid]

I think the darkworlds one if done well deffinatly would have a market. There are a freaking ton of people who like the vampire/werewolf RPG and if they do the MMOG well enough I am guessing it would hold its own niche well. Its also not an elf/dwarf game so I give them kudos for at least breaking the mold a bit.


kaid

[Nija]

In honesty, a "White Wolf"/"World of Darkness" MMO is something I know a fair number of people have been waiting for, and the concept certainly holds water a lot better than some other things I've seen thrown around as of late. Sure, it's another PvP MMO, but Werewolves vs. Vampires really is one of those things that you have to struggle to screw up.

Well, you're going to have zones where werewolves are picking flowers while vampires stroll by, jumping repeatedly. It's pretty easy to mess up.

[Driakos]

Well, you're going to have zones where werewolves are picking flowers while vampires stroll by, jumping repeatedly. It's pretty easy to mess up.

Or signs that point towards either.  Vampires ->    <- Werewolves

Monsters ->

<- Resources

[schild]

I'm almost tempted to apply for a job at Tulga. If only to support the idea of a horror game.

ALMOST.

[Broughden]

In honesty, a "White Wolf"/"World of Darkness" MMO is something I know a fair number of people have been waiting for, and the concept certainly holds water a lot better than some other things I've seen thrown around as of late. Sure, it's another PvP MMO, but Werewolves vs. Vampires really is one of those things that you have to struggle to screw up.

Wrong. Its easy.

A) You make humans weak (as they should be against preternaturally strong immortals), and everyone who plays a human bitches.

B) You make humans comparable to Vampires and Lycanthrops and they all bitch because humans are to hard to kill.

Humans should be NOTHING more than NPC's used for food or for events while being played by in game GMs (ie story advancers/starters).

[WindupAtheist]

You do B and tell people to STFU.  Balance before "realism".

Otherwise you end up with the SWG Jedi clusterfuck.

[kaid]

I am guessing the humans people would be playing would be either hunters or magi. Hunters while physically much weaker than a vamp or werewolves have access to a lot of nasty toys. If they can setup the fight hunters are very dangerous to the supernatural folks. Magi while physically weak have access to a lot of mojo and could deffinatly hold their own.

Kaid

[stray]

Exactly

[Signe]

I'm almost tempted to apply for a job at Tulga. If only to support the idea of a horror game.

ALMOST.

Why?  You wouldn't get the job, anyway.  I'm not sure you are strong enough not to control a wild giggling fit.  He'd probably remember you, too. 

[Broughden]

You do B and tell people to STFU.  Balance before "realism".

Otherwise you end up with the SWG Jedi clusterfuck.

Not if the Vamps and Lycans are balanced against each other.

[Margalis]

Humans have guns.

[SpaceDrake]

Yeah, that'd be the big human advantage, really. You won't be Joe Shopkeeper, you'll be someone kitted out to hunt down these abominations before God. There's a bunch of ways to balance the sides, if you're creative.

Clawing people to death, vanting to suck teir vlood, busting out Van Helsing style with silver-bolted crossbow or something...

Damn. For the first time in a good long while, I'm genuinely interested in an upcoming MMO title. The more I think about it, the more I'm like "Yeah... you could make that work."

Something I'll be keeping an eye on for sure.

[Llava]

Wait.

Tulga didn't make Horizons.  Artifact did.  Tulga bought it in 2005.

To my knowledge, Tulga hasn't actually developed anything all their own.  Unfortunately, according to Wikipedia...

It should be noted that while the press release from Artifact Entertainment states that Tulga Games is managed by Chris Tulumello, a search of the Arizona Corporation Commission website shows that David Bowman is both the new corporation's Statutory Agent and the sole manager (and Tulumello's name is never mentioned).

So......

I'd really like a horror MMG.  I don't think this is it.

[schild]

Tulga, I'd suspect, isn't really a real company in the way we think go "real" companies.

[Broughden]

Tulga, I'd suspect, isn't really a real company in the way we think go "real" companies.

So both Tulga and David Allen's new company are both in AZ. And Tulga isnt really a "real" company.
My tinfoil hat idea that MMO's are the new pyramid schemes of the 21st Century seems to be gaining some real ground here!

[Megrim]

Yeah, that'd be the big human advantage, really. You won't be Joe Shopkeeper, you'll be someone kitted out to hunt down these abominations before God. There's a bunch of ways to balance the sides, if you're creative.

Clawing people to death, vanting to suck teir vlood, busting out Van Helsing style with silver-bolted crossbow or something...

Damn. For the first time in a good long while, I'm genuinely interested in an upcoming MMO title. The more I think about it, the more I'm like "Yeah... you could make that work."

Something I'll be keeping an eye on for sure.

Well see, that might be a problem if they try to draw in the current Vamp and fur.. i mean Wolf crowds. By far the vast majority of WoD players are the 'lets talk about this at our next Camarilla meet, while posing and being emo' types, and not at all the PvP centric players it sounds they are looking for.

[Sparky]

Damn. For the first time in a good long while, I'm genuinely interested in an upcoming MMO title. The more I think about it, the more I'm like "Yeah... you could make that work."

Try Horizons and cure yourself of those wild notions.

Ugh, recommending Horizons... I need a shower.

[HaemishM]

Wait.

Tulga didn't make Horizons.  Artifact did.  Tulga bought it in 2005.

To my knowledge, Tulga hasn't actually developed anything all their own.  Unfortunately, according to Wikipedia...

It should be noted that while the press release from Artifact Entertainment states that Tulga Games is managed by Chris Tulumello, a search of the Arizona Corporation Commission website shows that David Bowman is both the new corporation's Statutory Agent and the sole manager (and Tulumello's name is never mentioned).

So......

I'd really like a horror MMG.  I don't think this is it.

The technical difference is that Tulga BOUGHT the assets of Artifact. Tulga was Bowman's company, so instead of working for Artifact, his company bought the company he worked for.

In street terms, it was a shell game to get Horizons free of Artifact's debts.

And let's not kid ourselves. No one at Tulga knows how to bring off a decent Vampires game without signs that say "Blood ->"